|
|
 |
One Million Dollars in Funding Provided to Create a Research Chair
at the Université du Québec à
Trois-Rivières to Stimulate Fuel Cell Research
Trois-Rivières,
Quebec, April 22, 2003 – Stéphane Dion, Minister
of Intergovernmental Affairs, on behalf of Allan Rock, Minister of Industry
and Minister responsible for the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research
Council (NSERC), today announced the creation of the NSERC Industrial
Research Chair in Hydrogen Storage. NSERC is providing $1 million in funding
over five years. The Government of Canada’s partners in this initiative
are Hydrogenics Corporation and Stuart Energy Systems Corporation, who
will jointly contribute $450,000 over five years.
The new chairholder, Professor Richard Chahine, and his research team
will concentrate their efforts on developing reliable technologies for
storing and transporting hydrogen, a gas that promises to be the energy
source of the future and an ecological substitute for fossil fuels.
This gas is currently the subject of intensive research at the Université
du Québec à Trois-Rivières' Institut de recherche
sur l'hydrogène (IRH). The goal of this project is to reduce
substantially the size and weight of hydrogen storage systems in fuel
cells. The work will be conducted in collaboration with industrial partners
who can validate and transfer the technologies developed. The nine-member
research team comprises research assistants, postdoctoral fellows, graduate
students, and a technician.
“Fuel cells will support the transition to a sustainable and
ecological energy system. To achieve this transition, however, it will
be important to develop innovative technologies for storing hydrogen,
which is the best fuel to power these cells,” Professor Chahine
explained.
“The global market for fuel cells should reach $45 billion by
2011. Most Canadian companies working to develop this technology are
small companies with limited financial resources and personnel with
expertise in hydrogen storage. This chair will therefore be of great
benefit to companies and will help them develop and market their products
in Canada,” said Minister Dion. “The proposed research is
very relevant and will have a positive impact on the Canadian economy,
with the Chair’s research findings allowing Canada to become a
world leader in the fuel cell field.”
NSERC's President, Dr. Tom Brzustowski, highlighted Chairholder Richard
Chahine’s solid expertise. “His peers recognize his skills
and expertise in the field of hydrogen storage. Professor Chahine is
the ideal candidate to develop new technologies that use hydrogen for
energy purposes. This chair is the result of a joint NSERC and National
Research Council fuel cell research program that will enable Canada
to make its mark internationally. Under this program, up to five NSERC-funded
chairs will be set up.”
This research chair is one of many that NSERC supports through its
research partnership programs, whose objective is to support high-quality
research that has industrial or social relevance and to transfer the
findings to Canadian organizations. Funding for these chairs is determined
through rigorous peer-review of submitted research proposals.
NSERC is a key Government of Canada agency investing in people, discovery,
and innovation. The Council supports both basic university research
through discovery grants and project research through partnerships among
universities, governments and the private sector, as well as the advanced
training of highly qualified people.
For further information, please contact:
Martine Perreault
Media Relations and Public Affairs Officer
Communications
NSERC
Telephone: (613) 995-8824
Cell: (613) 371-0219
E-mail: martine.perreault@nserc.ca
Arnet Sheppard
Manager, Newsbureau
Communications
NSERC
Telephone: (613) 995-5997
E-mail: axs@nserc.ca
Richard Chahine
Professor
Institut de recherche sur l’hydrogène
Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières
Telephone: (819) 376-5011, ext. 3588
E-mail: richard.chahine@uqtr.ca
|
